Department for Transport

General Lighthouse Authorities: Pay

lord berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what (1) salary increases, (2) bonuses, and (3) other increases in remuneration, were given in each of the last seven years to (a) senior staff and directors, and (b) other staff, of each of the three General Lighthouse Authorities; and what is their assessment of the levels of responsibility or risk that justified any variation in those increases.

lord callanan: Trinity House and the Commissioners of Northern Lighthouses follow the UK Government’s pay guidance. In the case of the Commissioners of Irish Lights, who are based in the Republic of Ireland, local market conditions are taken into account when arriving at their pay budget bid which is included in their corporate plans. All three General Lighthouse Authorities are required to comply with guidance issued by HM Treasury for the approval of senior pay. The General Lighthouse Fund Report and Accounts, which are laid before Parliament and published on gov.uk each year, includes a remuneration and staff report as well as the salaries of Chief Executives, Directors and Non-Executive Directors (where applicable) of all three General Lighthouse Authorities which also produce their own dedicated Report and Accounts. The details for other staff is attached. 



HL1639 - Table -  General Lighthouse Authorities
(Word Document, 14.3 KB)

European Aviation Safety Agency: European Union Agency for Railways

baroness hayter of kentish town: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to continue the UK’s involvement with (1)the European Aviation Safety Agency, and (2) the European Union Railway Agency, following the UK’s departure from the EU.

lord callanan: The Government is considering carefully all the potential implications arising from the UK’s exit from the EU, including the implications for continued or discontinued participation in Commission Agencies such as the European Aviation Safety Agency and the EU Agency for Railways.

Dangerous Driving

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the numberpeople(1) killed, and(2) injured, in 2016 in cases where the driver failed to stop after a collision; and how many of thosecases resulted in a prosecution.

lord callanan: In 2016 there were 70 fatal and 1,173 serious casualties where the driver failed to stop after a collision. Prosecutions are a matter for the Ministry of Justice. Details of prosecutions are published on the Ministry of Justice website.

Bicycles: Parking

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their policy on the abilityoftheir employees to park a bike at their workplace, wherever in the country that workplace is located; and whether theyintend todraw upnationalguidance for governmentbuildings that reflects best practice.

lord callanan: The Government is keen to encourage more people to cycle to work and supports this through schemes including the Cycle to Work scheme which can help make cycling more affordable for employees in both the public and private sectors. All government buildings are expected to provide sufficient cycle parking facilities wherever practicable, but decisions on this are for individual government departments and agencies. The Government has no current plans to provide national guidance on this matter.

Roads: Safety Measures

baroness wolf of dulwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what obligations there are for a local authority to consult in the case of a planned road or traffic measure which will affect general access to a public amenitysuch asa park.

lord callanan: For permanent measures affecting the use of a road, the local highway authority making the order must consult certain specified bodies and "other organisations (if any) representing persons likely to be affected by any provision in the order as the order making authority thinks it appropriate to consult". There is no obligation to consult the public directly the authority must publicise its proposals by publishing a notice in a local newspaper at least 21 days before making the order. The authority must also ensure that adequate publicity is provided to those likely to be affected. For a temporary order, no consultation is required but the order making authority must notify certain specified bodies such as the chief officer of police. The authority must also publicise proposals for temporary measures by publishing a notice in a local newspaper at least 7 days before making the order. For a temporary notice, which has a shorter maximum duration, there is no requirement to publish in advance and the same specified bodies must receive notification no later than the day on which the notice is issued.

Roads: Safety Measures

baroness wolf of dulwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the obligation to consult on planned traffic and road measures which affect public access to an amenity is different or wider than in cases affecting those living or driving in a residential street; and whetherthat obligationexplicitly includes consultation with users who may come from outside the borough in which the amenity lies.

lord callanan: The consultation requirements for measures that affect access to an amenity or access to a residential street are the same. There is no requirement to consult users of amenities directly, although there is to consult operators of tram cars and local bus routes affected by the proposed measures. Where the measures are to be permanent, there is an obligation to consult "organisations (if any) representing persons likely to be affected by any provision in the order as the order making authority thinks it appropriate to consult".

Department for Communities and Local Government

High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 25 September (HL1604), whether local authorities can expect automatic financial assistance for replacing unsafe materialsin cases whereit isdemonstrated that they followed the previous standards and processes set out in building regulationsthat are now being reviewed.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: The Government’s large scale tests were conducted to British Standard BS8414, which is a way of demonstrating, for a building over 18m, that a wall system meets relevant Building Regulations guidance. The outcome of these tests showed that four of the cladding systems failed to meet the test criteria.The Government expects building owners to fund measures designed to make a building safe and to draw on existing resources to do so. The Government will consider the removal of financial restrictions where financial barriers stand in the way of essential work being done. We will work with local authorities who approach us on a case by case basis.

Devolution: Yorkshire and the Humber

the lord bishop of leeds: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Yorkshire councils’ "coalition of the willing” to secure a single devolution deal for Yorkshire.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: Government has no intention to undo the legislation on the Sheffield City Region deal that has already been enacted in Parliament, including legislation for a mayoral election in May 2018. In response to 17 leaders of the “coalition of the willing”, the Government has made it clear that we would welcome any widely supported proposal for a Yorkshire devolution deal involving a single mayoral combined authority and on an appropriate geography that did not include the Sheffield City Region.

Economic Situation: North of England

the lord bishop of leeds: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the report by the Institute for Public Policy Research, Time for Change: A New Vision for the British Economy,what assessment they have made of the potential for the Northern Powerhouse to restructure the national economy.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: The potential of the Northern Powerhouse is huge. It is a region home to half of the UK’s largest cities, 1 million businesses, over 15 million people, and has a bigger economy than Norway, Sweden, Austria or Belgium.Delivering on our vision for the Northern Powerhouse - defined by a vibrant and growing economy, a flourishing private sector and a highly skilled population able to make the most of the great opportunities the North has to offer - will benefit the whole of the UK.That is why we announced £400 million for northern transport projects on 2 October 2017, building on the record investment we are already making to improve transport connections across the North - more than any Government in history. That is also why we launched the £400 million Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund earlier this year, supporting small and medium businesses across the North to start-up, grow, and expand their operations globally.The Northern Powerhouse is a top priority for this Government and central to our plans to build an economy that works for everyone.

Economic Situation: Rural Areas

the lord bishop of leeds: To ask Her Majesty's Government, in addition to their devolution programme for cities, what steps they are taking to promote the rural economy.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: As Government sets out the next stages of its developing Industrial Strategy, and meeting our manifesto commitments, I hope that we will be able to provide all areas across the country with greater clarity on how best to take forward their ambitions. That’s why we want to provide a clear framework on local growth and devolution, so local areas know where they stand. Meanwhile, rural economies are benefiting from growth and investment initiatives including fifteen Enterprise Zones located in rural areas; the Rural Development Programme for England which is providing £3.5 billion to support farmers, foresters and rural businesses and communities; and on going investment in connectivity across the UK, including the £1.7 billion of public funding dedicated to delivering superfast broadband and improvements to mobile connectivity in rural areas.

Housing: Infrastructure

the lord bishop of leeds: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of large housing developments with insufficient infrastructure and amenities on community cohesion, social capital, and social inclusion.

lord bourne of aberystwyth: It is for local authorities to ensure that there is sufficient infrastructure and amenities for large housing developments, and this Government is making sure that they have the means to do so. We are committed to ensuring that housebuilding is accompanied by suitable infrastructure to foster new and strong communities. The Housing White Paper sets out the importance of the timely provision of infrastructure in housing development, supported by our £2.3 billion Housing Infrastructure Fund.The National Planning Policy Framework recognises that the planning system can play an important role in facilitating social interaction and creating healthy, inclusive communities. It asks local planning authorities to create a shared vision with local communities of the residential environment and facilities they wish to see.Within plan making, the social impact of proposals in the draft plan (including site allocations) are assessed through a Sustainability Appraisal which assesses the social, economic and environmental effects.The Community Infrastructure Levy can be used to address the cumulative impact of development, and Section 106 planning obligations are used to make development acceptable.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Rented Housing: Repairs and Maintenance

lord beecham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the number of rented properties which they anticipate will benefit from the requirement for landlords to upgrade properties rated in energy bands F and G to at least band E; and what is their estimate of the number of such properties which will be exempted from the requirement on the grounds that the work would be at net cost to the landlord.

lord prior of brampton: Under the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property)(England and Wales) Regulations 2015, all landlords of domestic and non-domestic privately rented property in England and Wales will need to ensure that, from 1 April 2018, their properties reach at least an energy performance rating of E before granting a tenancy to new or existing tenants, unless a prescribed exemption applies.Based on the most recent English Housing Survey data, BEIS has estimated that, as of 2017, there were approximately 278,000 domestic, and around 200,000 non-domestic privately rented properties in England and Wales with an energy performance rating below E. We have made no formal estimate of the number of landlords in the domestic sector who may seek an exemption from these requirements on grounds of cost.Government announced recently in the Clean Growth Strategy that it will consult shortly on steps to make the domestic energy efficiency regulations more effective. We will also look at a longer term trajectory to improve the energy performance standards of privately rented homes, with the aim of upgrading as many private rented homes as possible to Energy Performance Certificate Band C by 2030 where practical, cost effective and affordable.

Attorney General

Dangerous Driving: Prosecutions

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty's Government how manydrivers were prosecuted in (1) 2015, and (2) 2016,for failureto stop after a collision.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not maintain a central record of the number of drivers prosecuted for offences of failing to stop at the scene of a road traffic accident.The offence of failing to stop at the scene of a road traffic accident is created by Section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 which imposes obligations on drivers of mechanically propelled vehicles who are involved in road accidents.Although it is not possible to identify the number of people charged with particular offences, records are held by the CPS showing the overall number of offences in which a prosecution conducted by them commenced in the magistrates’ courts. The table below therefore shows the number of offences, rather than defendants, charged by way of Section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 during 2015 and 2016. It should be noted that a single defendant may be charged with more than one offence. 20152016Road Traffic Act 1988 and Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 { 170 }9,8259,056Data Source: CPS Case Management Information SystemIt should further be noted that failures to stop at the scenes of traffic accidents are specified proceedings. These are offences which the police prosecute in order to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and ensure swifter justice. The CPS will only prosecute a specified offence in cases where a not guilty plea has been entered. It may also be the case that the CPS will prosecute this offence when the defendant is charged with other more serious associated offences (for example, failing to stop and dangerous driving or driving under the influence of alcohol). The figures in the table above do not include those specified cases prosecuted by the police.

Driving Offences

baroness jones of moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people were killed or injured as a result of driving offences in (1) 2015, and (2) 2016; what was the victim’s road user mode in each case; and where those statistics are reported.

baroness vere of norbiton: A number of offences under the Road Traffic Act 1988 involve causing death by driving, or may result in injury.While the CPS does not maintain a central record of the number of people killed or injured as a result of driving offences, or the victim’s mode of transport at the time the offence or offences were committed, the table below shows the number of offences, (rather than defendants) charged under the relevant sections of the Road Traffic Act 1988 during 2015 and 2016. It should be noted that a single defendant may be charged with more than one offence. 20152016Road Traffic Act 1988 and Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 { 1 } Causing death by dangerous driving228347Road Traffic Act 1988 and Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 { 1A } Causing serious injury by dangerous driving392504Road Traffic Act 1988 and Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 { 2B } Causing death by careless, or inconsiderate, driving206275Road Traffic Act 1988 and Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 { 3A } Causing death by careless driving: drink or drugs2645Road Traffic Act 1988 and Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 { 3ZB } Causing death by driving: unlicensed or uninsured drivers6787Road Traffic Act 1988 and Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 { 3ZC } Causing death by driving: disqualified drivers04Road Traffic Act 1988 and Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 { 3ZD } Causing serious injury by driving: disqualified drivers38Data Source: CPS Case Management Information SystemOther road traffic offences can also involve death or injury which does not form part of the charge.

Department for Education

Teachers: Training

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they intend to take to address the shortage of applications for secondary teacher training places in subjects not expectedto reach the targets set by the teacher supply model for September.

viscount younger of leckie: The number of teachers is at an all-time high: there are now 457,300 full time equivalent teachers, up 15,500 from 2010. The number of new teachers entering our classrooms continues to outnumber those who retire or leave, and the number of teachers returning to the profession is 8% higher than in 2011. We are continuing to offer generous bursaries to recruit the best graduates into the profession. From 2018 we are increasing funding across all high priority subjects. Our prestigious scholarship scheme will also continue, offering a package of tailored support and up to £28,000 tax-free for scholars in six subjects. We are also introducing a new style bursary for mathematics teachers with early retention payments. In addition to these generous incentives, teachers will benefit from the newly announced rise in the student loan repayment threshold and we will be piloting a new student loan reimbursement programme for science and Modern Foreign Language (MFL) teachers in the early years of their career, targeted in the areas of the country that need them most. We have also recently announced a £30 million investment in support for schools that struggle most with recruitment and retention.

Teachers: Training

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many School Direct salaried places have been offered in secondary schools for September; and what were the comparative numbers for (1) 2015, and (2) 2016.

viscount younger of leckie: The Department for Education allocates initial teacher training (ITT) places to accredited ITT providers in England. We allocate more places each year than are required, as we do not expect to fill every place. The number of trainee teachers who actually start courses with those ITT providers is published in the ITT Census in November each year.The available information for the years requested is summarised in the attached table.ITT allocations are published in the ‘Allocations’ section of the department’s ‘Statistics: initial teacher training’ webpage. The number of new entrants to ITT is published in the ITT Census, available in the ‘Census data’ section of the same webpage.Please note that there is no allocations publication for 2016/17, as the department did not allocate ITT places. ITT providers were allowed to recruit as many trainees as they felt necessary (subject to a limited number of controls) until the system had recruited sufficient trainees at the national level.  



School Direct salaried places table
(Word Document, 23.49 KB)

Schools: Finance

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatestimate they have made of the implications for school budgets of an increase in staff salaries of more than one per cent.

viscount younger of leckie: We will publish evidence on the affordability of increases to teachers' pay as part of the department’s input to the School Teachers’ Review Body consideration on teachers’ pay for 2018/19. In July 2017 we announced an additional £1.3bn for schools and high needs across 2018-19 and 2019-20, in addition to the schools budget set at Spending Review 2015. This means funding per pupil for schools and high needs will be maintained in real terms for the next two years. And following our announcement in September 2017, for the first time, under the national funding formula, school funding will be distributed based on the individual needs and characteristics of every school in the country. While the way schools are funded is important, it is also vital that schools themselves continue to get the best value from their resources, to improve pupil outcomes and promote social mobility. Alongside our substantial investment, we are committed to helping schools improve their efficiency in order to achieve this.

Department for Education: Statistics

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to ensure that statistics issued by the Department for Education are of the highest quality.

viscount younger of leckie: The Department for Education takes its responsibilities around statistics very seriously and has strong processes in place to ensure its statistics are of the highest quality. The Department’s statistical policy on quality assurance is published and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/622918/Quality_Assurance_in_DfE.pdf and has been attached. The Department works closely with the UK Statistics Authority as it develops its statistics.  



HL1688
(PDF Document, 479.97 KB)

Education: Assessments

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to prevent schools from entering students for more than one public examination in the same subject at the same time.

viscount younger of leckie: This is a matter for the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) and I have asked its Chief Regulator, Sally Collier, to write directly to the noble Lord. A copy of her reply will be placed in the House of Lords Library.

Sex and Relationship Education

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in developing guidance for schools on the teaching of relationship and sex education as required by section 34 of the Children and Social Work Act 2017; when they expect the draft guidance to be published; and when they expect to lay the relevant regulations before Parliament.

viscount younger of leckie: The Children and Social Work Act (2017) places a duty on the Secretary of State for Education to make Relationships Education mandatory in all primary schools, and Relationships and Sex Education mandatory in all secondary schools, in England.As part of our next steps, the Department intends to conduct thorough and wide ranging engagement on Relationships Education and Relationships and Sex Education. This will determine the content of the regulations and statutory guidance, covering subject content, school practice and quality of delivery. We will ensure the subjects are carefully designed to safeguard and support pupils whilst being deliverable for schools.The Department is committed to this programme of work and will set out shortly more details about the engagement process, the timetable and the work to consider age appropriate subject content.This will result in draft regulations and guidance on which we will consult. Following consultation, the regulations will be laid in the House allowing for a full and considered debate.

Children in Care

baroness walmsley: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many young children placed into care out of area subsequently go missing or become victims of abuse.

viscount younger of leckie: The department does not hold information on looked after children placed out of area who subsequently go missing or become victims of abuse. However, local authorities, police and other partners share current local data to safeguard on all looked after children if they go missing. This includes understanding patterns of missing episodes to put preventative steps in place.The government considers this an important issue. The Missing Children and Adults strategy, (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/missing-children-and-adults-strategy) which focuses primarily on vulnerable people who go missing within England and Wales, provides a core framework in which we can all work to deliver collectively the best protection possible for missing children, adults and their families.The government is clear that the needs of the child are paramount when making decisions about the right care placement. Local authorities have a statutory duty to consider the right placement for the child and take into account a number of factors, one of which is placement area. For some children in care a placement outside of a home local authority area is in their best interests, provided there is effective planning and oversight. In recent years we have strengthened the safeguards around children being placed out of area, for example since 2013, Directors of Children’s Services must approve all placements at ‘distance’ (i.e. more than 20 miles away).

*No heading*

baroness wolf of dulwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Nash on 28 July (HL1202), how much money was advanced in total for Advanced Learner Loans in 2015–16 to providers based or registered in Greater London.

viscount younger of leckie: The total outlay for new and continuing learners, funded by an Advanced Learner Loan in the 2015-16 financial year, to providers based or registered in London was £32 million.

*No heading*

baroness wolf of dulwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Nash on 28 July (HL1203), how much money was advanced in 2015–16 for Advanced Learner Loans in relation to qualifications at level 4 or higher delivered by providers based or registered in Great London.

viscount younger of leckie: The total outlay for new and continuing learners, funded by an Advanced Learner Loan for eligible qualifications at Level 4 or higher, in the 2015-16 financial year for providers based or registered in London was £2.1 million.

Ministry of Justice

Prison Officers: Resignations

lord ramsbotham: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many prison officers have left the Prison Service in the past 12 months who had (1) over five years’ service, and (2) over 10 years’ service; and what were the reasons given for their departure.

baroness vere of norbiton: The number of band 3-5 prison officers who left the service in the 12 months to 30 June 2017 is provided in the table below.  Table 1: Band 3-5 prison officer leavers (headcount) by length of service and reason for leaving, 12 months to June 2017.  Less than 5 years5-9 years10 years or moreTotalDismissals4154288383Resignations521139230890Retirements~~268274Medical Retirement~~115118Other Leavers422142105Total6052229431,770 NotesThe ‘Other’ category largely consists of fixed-term appointments coming to the end of their contract.~ Denotes suppressed values of 2 or fewer or other values which allow values of 2 or fewer to be derived by subtraction. Low numbers are suppressed to prevent disclosure in accordance with the Data Protection Act, 1998.

Ministry of Defence

Gibraltar Defence Police

baroness harris of richmond: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether publication of the review into the Gibraltar Defence Police has been delayed; and if so, why.

earl howe: The review into the Gibraltar Defence Police has been published today. I have written to the noble Baroness with a copy of the report's executive summary and recommendations.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Food Poverty

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Gardiner of Kimble on 14 September (HL1284),what assessment they have made of the finding by the Food and Agriculture Organisation showing that 4.2 per cent of households in the UK have experienced severe food insecurity, the second highest rate in Europe, and in particular, the extent to which this is an accurate representation of levels of household food insecurityin the UK.

lord gardiner of kimble: The UK has a high degree of food security, as demonstrated by the 2010 UK Food Security Assessment. It is a comprehensive analysis of all aspects of food security, including household food security. We have just commenced a review of the assessment.   The Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), developed by the ‘Voices of the Hungry’ (VoH) project of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), uses the Gallup World Poll to collect data on household food security in up to 150 countries including the UK. The 2017 publication showed that 4.2% of those households surveyed in the UK reported having experienced severe food insecurity compared with 4.5% in the previous data published in 2015. This is self-reported by participants based on their own experience. The measure provides a partial picture of a broader issue.   The ONS Living Costs and Food Survey (LCFS) contains questions about household spend on food, including that of the lowest 20% income households, which has remained stable between 16% and 16.5% for a number of years.   This Government is committed to tackling poverty and disadvantage and delivering real social reform, and we believe that economic growth and employment offer the best route to give people a better future. There are now 954,000 fewer workless households; and 608,000 fewer children in workless households compared with 2010. The employment rate is also at a record high of 75.3%. The number of people in work has risen 379,000 over the last year bringing the total employment level to a record high of 32.14 million. We also provide a strong safety net through the welfare system for those who need extra support.

Home Office

EU Nationals: Transport

baroness hayter of kentish town: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatmeetings Home Office(1) ministers, and (2) officials, have held with representatives of the transport sector in respect of the movement of EU citizens after the UK’s exit from the EU.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government is considering a range of options for the immigration system for EU citizens after the UK leaves the EU. Since the Referendum result last year, Ministers have been undertaking an extensive programme of engagement and evidence gathering with all interested parties including business, industry, transport, trade unions, educational institutions and many others in the coming months. On 27 July, my RHF the Home Secretary also commissioned the independent Migration Advisory Committee to advise on current patterns of EU migration across all sectors, and the role of migration in the wider economy and society. The Government will be setting out initial proposals for a new immigration system in the Migration White Paper later in the autumn. We will carry out further engagement with stakeholders once our proposals have been published.

Crime

baroness hayter of kentish town: To ask Her Majesty's Government which criminal offences have been introduced by secondary legislation in the last 30 years.

baroness williams of trafford: The Home Office does not keep central records of criminal offences introduced by secondary legislation in the last thirty years and to research this statistic would incur a disproportionate cost to the public purse.

Immigration: North of England

the lord bishop of leeds: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatestimate they have made of the level of immigration required, if any,to support the Northern Powerhouse.

baroness williams of trafford: On 27 July the Government commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to gather evidence on the role of migration in the economy and aligning the immigration system with a modern industrial strategy for the United Kingdom.

Offences Against Children: Criminal Investigation

lord lexden: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answers byBaroness Williams of Trafford on 13 September (HL Deb, cols 2454–7), whether they have made representations to the Metropolitan Police and the Wiltshire Constabulary about public disquiet regarding the handling of well-publicised allegations of child sexual abuse; and if so, what replies have been received.

lord lexden: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police about the implementation of the recommendations in Sir Richard Henriques’report on the Metropolitan Police Service's handling of non-recent sexual offence investigations.

lord lexden: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have plans to ensure or enable the enhancement of police training in order to improve the manner in which allegations of child sexual abuse are investigated.

baroness williams of trafford: The police are rightly operationally independent of Government and how an individual force handles the investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse is a matter for the relevant Chief Officer. Ministers and officials have regular discussions with the Police on a wide range of issues. Sir Richard Henriques made a number of recommendations which are for the Metropolitan Police to consider with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, Police and Crime Commissioners, the College of Policing, and statutory and voluntary partners in the criminal justice system. As the professional body for policing, the College of Policing are responsible for setting national standards and guidance in this area. The Government has provided millions of pounds of extra investment through the Police Transformation Fund to transform policing to respond to changing crimes and threats. Through this fund we have already awarded £1.9 million to the College of Policing to transform policing’s approach to crimes against vulnerable people, including child sexual abuse. The package includes piloting a license to practice which will ensure that only those officers who are qualified to carry out specialist investigations in high risk areas like child protection, are able to do so.

Compulsorily Detained Mental Patients

lord ramsbotham: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the short-term detention rules will be published.

baroness williams of trafford: The Short Term Holding Facility Rules are expected to be made by the end of 2017.

HM Treasury

Federation Internationale de L'Automobile: Sudan

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of grants from the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile paid to Sudanese motoring organisations; and whether they intend to ask the Serious Fraud Office to investigate the possibility that corrupt payments were made in relation to those grants.

lord bates: HM Government takes any reports of suspected breaches of the law very seriously. Information relating to this matter has been received by HM Treasury via its Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI). OFSI are engaging with relevant government agencies as appropriate to ensure the information is properly considered. HM Treasury does not comment further on individual cases.

Insurance

baroness hayter of kentish town: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assurances they have given regarding the future of long-term insurance contracts in the light of Brexit.

lord bates: The government recognises the issues the UK’s departure from the EU creates for firms ability to service long-term contracts in force at EU exit. We are considering in particular risks arising from any change of passporting arrangements and the impact on cross-border contracts, including long-term insurance contracts. Much of the detail of these arrangements remains a matter for the EU exit negotiation process, but we will continue to provide information to help firms deal with the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities as we move towards our future relationship with the EU.

Brexit

lord higgins: To ask Her Majesty's Government what Sterling to Euro exchange rate they are using to calculate the value of any financial settlement arising from the Brexit negotiations.

lord bates: The arrangements for withdrawal from the EU, including determining the sterling and euro values of the financial settlement, will be a matter for the withdrawal agreement as part of the Article 50 process. The UK government is committed to working with the EU to determine a fair settlement for Britain’s exit and the best deal for UK taxpayers.

Tobacco: Smuggling

lord maginnis of drumglass: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the Tobacco Manufacturing Association's recent survey finding that over 70 per centof tobacco used in the UK is obtained from illicit sources abroad; and what is their assessment of the impact of that finding on health and tax revenues.

lord bates: The Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association survey reports that 72.5% of smokers purchased tobacco from non-UK duty paid sources. This included legitimate cross-border shopping, which provided it is for personal use, is not subject to UK duty. Therefore, this is not a direct measurement of the illicit market or tax gap. HMRC publishes annual estimates of the tobacco illicit market on the GOV.UK website. Its latest estimate of revenue losses associated with illicit tobacco was £2.4 billion in 2015-16. Tackling illicit tobacco, which undermines government taxation and public health policy is a government priority. Since 2000, when the government launched its first strategy to tackle illicit tobacco, the percentage tax gap for cigarettes has reduced in 2015-16 from 22% to 13% and for hand-rolling tobacco from 61% to 32%.

Tobacco: Smuggling

lord maginnis of drumglass: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many cases of illegal tobacco trading, and illegal tobacco purchase and use, have been brought before the courts in each of the past three years; what was the maximum, and the mean, penalty imposed; and what was the total gross cost of those prosecutions.

lord bates: Prosecutions for illegal tobacco can be brought for a range of offences from dealing in illicit product, on which UK duty has not been paid, to breaches of the Department of Health’s regulations for tobacco control. Prosecutions can also be brought by a range of organisations including the Crown Prosecution Service and Local Authorities. Data on the total number of cases brought before the courts; the cost of those prosecutions; and the costs or penalties related to all tobacco related offences is not held centrally.HMRC is unable to provide specific data relating to ‘illegal tobacco trading’ and ‘illegal tobacco purchase and use’, as this split is not recorded in our data. The table below shows the total number of tobacco cases dealt with by HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service over the past three financial years.Financial YearOperations AdoptedRevenue Loss Protected (at date of intervention)Number of Individuals ConvictedNumber of Individuals Acquitted2014/15406£988,677,013237262015/16324£1,004,101,439268262016/17365£1,140,300,08331839 Please note that the above data do not correlate to each other - they are separate occurrences in a particular financial year.

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lord myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to examine the rate of interest charged on loans from shareholders to UK utilities to establish (1) whether the terms, including rates of interest, are commercial, and (2) the tax deductibility of such interest is legitimate.

lord bates: The capital structure of a business and the terms of any loan agreements is a commercial decision for the business and its investors or lenders. Interest expense incurred by a business is generally deductible in calculating taxable profits, but a number of tax rules limit such deductions. These tax rules apply to utilities just as to other sectors. In particular, transfer pricing rules disallow interest deductions in excess of what would be paid to an independent lender. And an unallowable purpose rule prevents deductions for interest on a loan that does not have a commercial purpose. HMRC robustly enforces these rules to ensure they are applied correctly. Furthermore, in line with OECD recommendations and following extensive consultation, the government is introducing new corporate interest restriction rules in the current Finance Bill to limit the deductions that a business can obtain for financing costs based on the amount of its earnings taxable in the UK.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Sanitary Protection: VAT

baroness barker: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many grants from the Tampon Tax Fund are yet to be agreed; and what is the timetable for completion of those agreements.

lord ashton of hyde: The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is managing 53 of the 70 grants awarded from the 2017/18 Tampon Tax Fund. Grant agreements have been finalised for 38 of those grants. The remaining grants are managed by the devolved administrations. Grant agreements are finalised and signed when the department and the recipient both agree to the terms and conditions so the end date for that process is not entirely within government's control.

Telephone Services: Disclosure of Information

lord beecham: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether theywill make representations to Ofcom about the practice of telephone service providers terminating and transferring users’ numbers without their consent.

lord ashton of hyde: The cancellation of services without consumer consent is prohibited and is a matter for Ofcom. Ofcom requires companies to get customer permission and consent to cancel and specifies the type of information that needs to be made available to the customer before this can take place. Ofcom also places a requirement on companies to keep records of the customer’s consent to cancel their service for 12 months. In addition to these strict requirements, Ofcom has imposed several important safeguards within the current cancellation process to minimise the opportunity for error to occur, including a requirement that the company must write to the customer letting them know of the imminent cancellation of their phone line before the cancellation can happen. The customer then has a 10-day period in which to stop the cancellation going ahead if they change their mind, or if there has been a mistake.

Department of Health

Vulnerable Adults: Social Services

lord beecham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of withdrawing the Supporting People Programme in 2016 on (1) the diversion of patients from health to preventative social care services, and (2) the ability of vulnerable people to live independently at home.

lord o'shaughnessy: Since 2011, funding for local authorities (LAs) for Supporting People has been subsumed within the general grant to LAs. This is part of Government’s devolution policy, which allows LAs to manage funding according to local priorities. The Government believes this approach to local funding has proved successful in promoting increased freedom, flexibility, and local accountability, and has no plans to review it. Consequently, there has been no formal assessment of the impact of including Supporting People grant funding (or other formerly discrete grants) within the general grant. A suitable home can help people stay independent for longer; reduce and delay care costs; and allow people’s needs to be met more effectively. The Disabled Facilities Grant supports people on low-income to adapt their homes. It forms a major part of the Better Care Fund, and funding has almost doubled from £220 million in 2015-16 to £431 million in 2017-18. In addition to the Department for Communities and Local Government’s work to build more supported housing, the Department of Health is also contributing through its Care and Support Specialised Housing Fund, which will build over 6,000 new homes at a total cost of around £200 million.

Care Homes

lord ouseley: To ask Her Majesty's Government in the light of research published by the BBC on 2 August estimating future shortfalls in care home places, what steps they are taking to ensure the sufficient provision of such places.

lord o'shaughnessy: High quality care is not just about care home beds. Of those aged 65 and over who need local authority support, 61% are cared for in their own home. Since 2010, there has been a growth in home care agencies of more than 2,900. We have given local authorities in England an extra £2 billion over the next three years to maintain access for our growing aging population and allow councils to sustain a diverse care market including care home places. In addition the Government has announced we will consult on plans to improve the social care system and to put it on a more secure financial footing.

Palliative Care

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of data in VOICES Surveys showing that less than one fifth of respondents felt that patients dying at home had their pain controlled completely, all of the time, during the last two days of life.

lord o'shaughnessy: It is important that all patients at the end of life have their pain adequately controlled. Data from the most recent National Survey of Bereaved People (VOICES) survey, published by the Office for National Statistics in 2016, found that in the last two days of life, just over 80% of respondents strongly agreed (42.3%) or agreed (27.9%) that patients dying at home had sufficient pain relief. Just under 11% of respondents disagreed (6.8%) or strongly disagreed (4.9%).